The Coast is Clear (for now): Radiation Heading Eastward

Olivia Lee (a.k.a. The Nutritioneer) and Dr Richard have both shared an illustrated map from Der Speigel showing a "time lapse time-lapse of the Japanese radiation exposure headed mostly east, over the Pacific, and not westerly towards China."

The People’s Daily has also run a report claiming that "no abnormalities have been found in China radiation monitoring."

For now, at least , it seems Beijingers can exhale and stop clutching their iodine bottles.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal writes about renewed international scrutiny on China’s own nuclear plans as a result of this week’s crisis:

"China [which has many fault lines of its own]is in the midst of a nuclear-power building binge, with 25 plants under construction in addition to the 13 now in operation. The plan is to expand China’s current installed production capacity by nearly seven times—to 86 gigawatts in 2020 from 10.8 gigawatts now—and increase nuclear power to 5% of China’s energy output, from around 1%. Nuclear power is a core element of Beijing’s commitment to reduce emissions from burning coal and other fossil fuels, much of which China has to import. Its expansion is part of five-year plan for 2011 through 2015 formally adopted by China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, on Monday."